Then, consider the people in your community and the world at large.
The waste that we all create really adds up.
It can feel overwhelming and distressing.
Photo: Ekaterina-P/Depositphotos
It leaves us wondering: how do you mitigate waste and take personal responsibility for theplastic problem?
The first thing to do is to try and curb your reliance onsingle-use plastics.
But as much as you make the eco-friendly switch, plastics are unfortunately unavoidable.
Makingecobricksare one way to do something with your plastic without putting it in a landfill.
And best of all, they are simple to createanyone can do itand require minimal supplies to get started.
When done correctly,ecobricksbecome solid plastic bricks that can be used to build structures.
This keeps the plastics from degrading intotoxinsandmicroplasticswhile making them usefulall while showing the power ofregenerative construction.
Scroll down to learn more about ecobricks and the steps to take in creating your own.
What is an ecobrick?
A PET plastic bottle is filled and condensed with clean and dry used plastic.
Why should you make an ecobrick?
But it is also a huge problem for our environment and is directly contributing to theclimate crisis.
Ecobrick turns bits of plastic into something useful that doesnt contaminate our environment.
It will empower you to build and help others in your community.
Step 1: Save and separate your clean and dry plastics.
Potential plastics include food packaging bags, straws, and clear plastic, like cling wrap.
see to it that each piece is clean and dry.
Keep your ecobricks to include only plasticno metal, glass, or paper.
Metal and glass can puncture the sides and paper will break down (unlike plastic).
Step 2: Choose a bottle and stick with it.
Find a PET bottle size and design you like and plan to stick with it.
Having bottles that are all the same size makes it easier to build because of the uniformity.
Opt for something thats easy to obtain and consider what youll be using the bricks for.
If youre working with others or giving ecobricks away, the size is more consistent, too.
You will also want to figure out an end-use for your ecobricks.
Depending on what youre building, you might require different size bottles.
Step 3: Grab a stick.
You will need a stick to compact the plastic in your eco-brick.
Bamboo and wood are recommended.
If you need a place to start, try the end of a wooden spoon.
Step 4: Get colorful.
Start your ecobrick with a color to aid in design, especially when multiple bricks are being used.
Step 5: Fill your bottle and condense the layers as you go.
Cut the plastic into smaller pieces to make it dense.
Start filling the bottle with loose plastic and then use your stick to compress it.
You want it to be solidit should be heavy when youre donebut dont pack your ecobrick too full.
Otherwise, the top might eventually burst and it will no longer be a viable ecobrick.
Leave a little less than an inch of space between the plastic filling and the cap.
Step 6: Weigh your ecobrick.
Its important that your ecobrick meets certain standards for integrity in building.
An ecobricks minimum weight has to be its bottle volume multiplied by .33.
Step 7: Record your ecobrick.
Dont use tape or stickers to do this, however, and avoid permanent markers if possible.
They arent permanent solutions and will eventually come off the bottle.
Step 8: Store until youre ready to use.
What is an ecobrick used for?
Ecobricks have short and long-term uses in building.
Most notably, they can be used to build structures in the place of conventional bricks.
Is it easy to make an ecobrick?
You only need plastic, a plastic bottle, and a stick to make your own ecobrick.
